What is a circus?What is a circus?A A circuscircus is a company is a company of performers that may of performers that may include clowns, include clowns, acrobats, trained acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and jugglers, unicyclists and other object other object manipulation and stuntmanipulation and stunt--oriented artists.oriented artists.

Circus historyCircus history•• The modern circus was The modern circus was

developed in England developed in England by the son of a by the son of a cabinetmaker and cabinetmaker and veneer cutter. veneer cutter.

•• Philip Astley (1742Philip Astley (1742--1814) was a former 1814) was a former Sergeant Major in the Sergeant Major in the Fifteenth Light Fifteenth Light Dragoon Regiment and Dragoon Regiment and an outstanding horse an outstanding horse trainer. trainer.

Circus historyCircus history

In 1768, Astley settled in London and In 1768, Astley settled in London and opened a ridingopened a riding--school near Westminster school near Westminster Bridge, where he taught riding in the Bridge, where he taught riding in the morning and performed amazing "feats of morning and performed amazing "feats of horsemanship" in the afternoon. horsemanship" in the afternoon.

Circus historyCircus history

The school had a circular arena that Astley The school had a circular arena that Astley called his circle, or circus, which would later called his circle, or circus, which would later

be known as the ring. be known as the ring.

Circus historyCircus history

By 1770, Astley had recognised that he By 1770, Astley had recognised that he needed to bring something new to his needed to bring something new to his performances. performances.

Acrobats, ropeAcrobats, rope--dancers and jugglers were dancers and jugglers were added to his equestrian displays but Astley's added to his equestrian displays but Astley's real triumph was identifying the circus's real triumph was identifying the circus's need for clowns. need for clowns.

ClownsClowns

Throughout the Middle Ages Throughout the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, jesters and early Renaissance, jesters or fools played an important role or fools played an important role in the social culture of Medieval in the social culture of Medieval Europe. They alone could Europe. They alone could answer back to authority. By answer back to authority. By making fun and satirising social making fun and satirising social customs and more, jesters were customs and more, jesters were often catalysts for social often catalysts for social changechange

ClownsClowns•• It was during this period that the It was during this period that the

colourful costumes associated colourful costumes associated with today's clowns had their with today's clowns had their beginnings. beginnings.

•• During this period, Jesters During this period, Jesters adopted a fairly standard adopted a fairly standard "uniform' of brightly coloured "uniform' of brightly coloured ––often green and saffron often green and saffron coloured coats, two coloured coloured coats, two coloured hose and a hooded cap which hose and a hooded cap which was topped by little bells that was topped by little bells that rang whenever the wearer rang whenever the wearer moved.moved.

ClownsClowns•• From the 1500's to the 1700's From the 1500's to the 1700's

spontaneous Italian theatre spontaneous Italian theatre thrived and gave birth to a thrived and gave birth to a host of comedic characters host of comedic characters which till survive today. which till survive today.

•• These include Harlequin, with These include Harlequin, with his patchwork costume, and his patchwork costume, and Pierrot, one of the earliest Pierrot, one of the earliest clowns to use whiteface clowns to use whiteface makeup.makeup.

ClownsClownsFrench clowns began the type French clowns began the type of funny clown we see in of funny clown we see in circuses nowadays. They circuses nowadays. They performed juggling, tightrope performed juggling, tightrope walking, and tumbling shows in walking, and tumbling shows in front of fairground theatres. front of fairground theatres. These performances were used These performances were used to entice fairgoers to pay to see to entice fairgoers to pay to see the main show inside the the main show inside the fairgrounds. fairgrounds.

Circus tentCircus tent

•• In Europe, the travelling circus and In Europe, the travelling circus and menagerie reached its peak between menagerie reached its peak between World War I and II.World War I and II.

•• In the larger cities, tented circus shows In the larger cities, tented circus shows were very rare as circus performances were very rare as circus performances were still presented in permanent were still presented in permanent buildings. buildings.

Circus tentCircus tent

By the end of the nineteenth century, the By the end of the nineteenth century, the smaller tents of the onesmaller tents of the one--ring show had given ring show had given way to the "bigway to the "big--top" and the circus enjoyed a top" and the circus enjoyed a

golden age. golden age.

Lion TamerLion Tamer

Lion tamingLion taming is the is the taming and training of taming and training of lions for entertainment, lions for entertainment, particularly in the particularly in the circus. circus.

The term often applies to the taming and The term often applies to the taming and display of other big cats such as tigers, display of other big cats such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars. leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and cougars.

Trapeze artistTrapeze artist

A A trapezetrapeze is a short is a short horizontal bar hung by horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps ropes or metal straps from a support. It is an from a support. It is an aerial apparatus aerial apparatus commonly found in circus commonly found in circus performances. performances. Trapeze acts may be static, swinging or Trapeze acts may be static, swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act.triple or as a group act.

UnicyclistUnicyclist

A A unicycleunicycle is a humanis a human--powered, pedalpowered, pedal--driven, driven, singlesingle--track vehicle having track vehicle having one fixed wheel attached to a one fixed wheel attached to a frame with a saddle.frame with a saddle.

HoopingHoopingHoopingHooping is movement and is movement and dancing with a hoop (or hoops) dancing with a hoop (or hoops) to music. to music. Modern hoopers use heavier Modern hoopers use heavier and larger diameter hoops, and and larger diameter hoops, and frequently rotate the hoop frequently rotate the hoop around parts of the body other around parts of the body other than the waist, including the than the waist, including the hips, chest, neck, shoulders, hips, chest, neck, shoulders, thighs, knees, arms, hands, thighs, knees, arms, hands, thumbs, feet and toes. thumbs, feet and toes.

AcrobaticsAcrobatics

AcrobaticsAcrobatics is the performance of is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility, and extraordinary feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination.motor coordination.

Circus skillsCircus skills

Nowadays, companies offer circus skill Nowadays, companies offer circus skill workshops, teaching links to many workshops, teaching links to many

curriculum areas, such as PE, Art, Music, curriculum areas, such as PE, Art, Music, Literacy and Numeracy.Literacy and Numeracy.